Wicks.AdminSystems

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How to Start an Online Program
Breakout Session: Administrative Systems (Connie Radtke and Amy Murin)


K12 Online Marketplace

KP K-12 Market Landscape.pdf


Special NOTE:Keeping Pace 2010 is now available online in a dynamic way so you can download any of the graphics or content for you own use. www.kpk12.com

Learning Management Systems (LMS) - Notes from the topics in breakout sessions.

  • Benefits of Proprietary LMS
    • Content may come preloaded and or pre-packaged
    • You may be able to select lessons and order and create simple (not interactive) lessons
    • Tech Support 24/7, all issues are THEIR problem
    • Be sure to check for ample documentation
    • Provide/purchase their professional development for their product
    • Check level of integration with SIS, email, mobile devices
    • Sophisticated lesson tools such as avatars and flash lesson tools may be available.
    • Likely addresses W3 (SCORM) standards


  • Drawbacks of Proprietary LMS
    • COST (though cost is fixed and scalable)
    • Limited ability to customize
    • Limited local control
    • Standards by state may or may not be available (be sure to check how well they meet the standards not just an alignment that may only cover 30% of the standards for the course)

  • Benefits of Open Source LMS
    • COST
    • Supported systems are available for a modest fee
    • District/local IT support staff may have limited comfort zone

  • Drawbacks of Open Source LMS
    • Tech Support is YOUR problem
    • Structure for tech support varies depending on their availability locally or need to contract for supported
    • Math and foreign language needs for special characters
    • Hidden costs
    • Scalability


Student Information Systems (SIS)


  • “Pain points” with your online school/program and whatever Student Information Systems you are using
    • issues with weighting/grading online courses (i.e. Plato self-paced courses that students complete at various times)
    • LMS Grade > Emailed to registrar > Manual entry into district SIS
    • Online course grade may not show up on report card or be included in semester GPA
    • Online grade not showing up on transcript
    • Integration is MANUAL and very slow
    • Access to progress information, then access to course where students are struggling is limited
    • District or STATE-wide SIS won't allow any integration

  • Features, functions, reports that you use that are specialized for your online/school program
    • Report current credits / credit recovery / differences in comparable courses
    • Transcripts
    • Tracking graduation goals / planning recommended courses
    • Directory information
    • Tracking Tuition/payments
    • Start/End dates
    • Tracking teacher workloads
    • Demographic - minority, ELL, Special Ed
    • Tracking supplemental materials

  • Other features you wish you had
    • compare online to brick & mortar data
    • integration
    • access to more roles controlling access to SIS

Web Conferencing


  • Roles web conferencing plays in online learning for students
    • 1-1 or small group tutoring
    • World Language Oral Components
    • Oral Quizzes
    • Discussions: current events, book discussions, debates, class presentations, speeches
    • Guest Speakers
    • Teacher Office Hours
    • Virtual Open Houses
    • Parent Conferences

  • Ways recording of web conferences could be utilized
    • Record a guest speaker (with their permission) to share with students not available for the presentation
    • Open House recordings can be posted on your web sites
    • Recording Parent Conferences, IEP meetings
    • Recording a lesson or summary of lessons for the past week and what is coming for the next week